CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 2019 YEAR IN 2020 REVIEW INTRODUCTION I think we can all agree that 2020 will be a year to remember! We were faced with so many unprecedented events that refined our critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity skills. I could not be more proud of the grace displayed in March when our teachers, staff, and principals had to make an abrupt pivot to address school closures due to COVID-19. Even more remarkable was the dignified response by the Class of 2020 in learning that their graduation celebrations would not be of the traditional sort. I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the determination of every other student to continue to excel in academics despite the new and unfamiliar virtual platform. Before COVID-19 we had numerous things to celebrate. For starters, we began the school year with the opening of three brand new school facilities – Burns Elementary School (Burns at Meeting Street), Dunston Elementary School, and Stono Park Elementary School. Our Top Five Finalists for Teacher of the Year were announced and celebrated. Congratulations to Dr. Amy Bramble of Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary School, Stephanie Ganacoplos of C.E. Williams Middle School, Lakevia Mills of St. John’s High School, Mev McIntosh of North Charleston High School and Margo Quigley of Wando High School. We unveiled a new Board mandated Cultural Competency training for all district employees. The official Gerrita Postlewait policy was adopted by the CCSD Board of Trustees on December 16, 2019. Superintendent of Schools Charleston County School District At the national level, Academic Magnet High School was recognized as the country’s #2 school by U.S. News and World Report and the #29 STEM high school by Newsweek. For the second time in three years, Laing Middle School was one of ten schools nationally to receive the STEM School of Excellence Recognition by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association. Military Magnet Academy was one of only four schools in the nation to be named a Flying School at the National Youth-At-Risk Conference. Additionally, Wando High School’s band was a national recipient of the 2019 National Band Association Program of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award. CCSD had a total of 23 winners in the 65th annual National Merit Scholarship Program this year. The students and educators in this district never cease to amaze me! One of the greatest blessings of my professional life is the opportunity to advocate for our teachers and our students. Here’s to 2021, the year we’ve all been looking forward to! Sincerely, ˆ Gerrita Postlewait Superintendent of Schools CONTENTS CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT CELEBRATION ..........................................................................4 2019 YEAR IN EDUCATOR AWARDS..............................................................12 2020 REVIEW ATHLETICS..............................................................................18 COMMUNITY AND PHILANTHROPY ..................................22 ARTS ........................................................................................26 CULTURE ................................................................................28 STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT ....................................................34 SCHOOL AND DISTRICT AWARDS ......................................46 LITERACY ................................................................................48 STEM ........................................................................................54 SUSTAINABILITY AND WELLNESS........................................60 SPECIAL PROGRAMS ..............................................................64 COVID-19 ................................................................................70 MISSION, VALUES & COMMITMENTS ................................72 DISTRICT PROFILE ................................................................74 CELEBRATION Superintendent Dr. Gerrita Postlewait welcomes students on the first day of school Charleston County School District (CCSD) Superintendent Dr. Gerrita Postlewait visited schools Wednesday, August 21 to welcome students on the first day back to school for the 2019-2020 School year. She started the morning at West Ashley Middle School, with a stop at E.B. Ellington Elementary School, Stono Park Elementary School, Deer Park Middle School, and Pepperhill Elementary School before stopping for a tour and lunch at the brand new Matilda F. Dunston Elementary School. The tour concluded with a visit to Edmund A. Burns Elementary School/ Meeting Street Academy @ Burns and Moultrie Middle School. CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT | PAGE 4 In the Whorl of Time James Simons Centennial celebrations The week of September 9-13, 2019 marked 100 years since James Simons Elementary School opened its doors. A pivotal part of Charleston’s rich history, school leaders say James Simons has always been a place that represents hope, family, and community. For example, it was one of the first schools in Charleston to desegregate. Five years ago, the first African-American children to desegregate a Charleston school, Oveta Glover and Barbara Ford Morrison returned to James Simons to officially dedicate the new building. The new building was renovated to include the original, historical staircase that goes out to Moultrie Street, once again paying homage to the roots of James Simons. Alumni and present students of James Simons alike have been very proud of the history there. This school has always honored the past while looking to the future. The school partnered with conNECKtedTOO, a group of artists, educators, activists working with and for TINY Businesses, to create a spiraled mandala In the Whorl of Time, that was showcased in the historical entrance of the school. The 1200 pieces were created under the leadership of artist Sonia Osio and educator Pamella Gibbs. Students and educators have been working on these pieces for the past year. The individual mandalas were created by classes at James Simons as well as a school in Ecuador and another school in Georgia. This collaborative effort came together to represent 1919-2019, the historical timeline of the school, race relationships, field trips to neighborhood TINY businesses by the middle school entrepreneurship class, family stories, and wishes for the future. Oakland Elementary Family Photo It is tradition at Oakland Elementary School to take a school picture. Theirs is unique in that they call it a family photo. Students, teachers, and staff gather on school grounds and stand in position so as to create a Brentwood @ Meeting Street peace symbol – symbolic of the school’s culture. Sixth graders at Meeting Street at Brentwood unveiled their new uniforms this year. CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT | PAGE 5 BACK TO SCHOOL EVENTS First Day Festival is another success Students celebrated the upcoming start of the school year Sunday at the annual First Day Festival August 18, 2019. The free event for Charleston County School District families was hosted by the City of Charleston Mayor’s Office. Students received backpacks filled with school supplies and parents received information and resources for the upcoming school year. Free entry to the South Carolina Aquarium and free boat rides were offered, along with swag and goodies from vendors from all over the Lowcountry. CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT | PAGE 6 Hooties Homegrown Roundup provides Back to School Basics for 13th year Charleston County School District (CCSD) hosted the Services and supplies were donated by the band Hootie to use their celebrity status to help improve the lives 13th Annual Hootie and the Blowfish Homegrown & the Blowfish and various local community businesses of those in need, especially children. This type of Roundup at Burke High School August 17, 2019 to that included, haircuts, dental evaluations, eye exams, philanthropic spirit led the band to establish Hootie’s Homegrown Roundup: Back to School Basics in help better prepare students for the 2019-2020 school backpacks filled with school supplies. 2007. year. Hootie & the Blowfish is one of the most successful The Roundup has helped over The Roundup provides services and back-to-school music groups of all time selling over 25 million albums 13,000 students since its supplies for 1,000 students from CCSD Title 1 schools. worldwide. The band believes they have a responsibility inception. CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT | PAGE 7 100th Day celebration Students at Malcom C. Hursey Montessori School celebrated the 100th day of school by dressing up in costume. Julian Mitchell Elementary holds 11th Annual Holiday Market The 11th Annual Holiday Market is a much-anticipated event for all of the students at Julian Mitchell Elementary School. Each year, through community donations, the school’s Behavior Management Specialist, Reggie Terry, sets up a market for students to “shop” for items that will be given to family and friends during the holiday season. Each student chooses two items that are wrapped by volunteers so they can be presented as gifts. This is a day that students look forward to because it allows them the opportunity to give a gift to someone that is special to them. Fifth grade students look forward to the event as well; they help younger students find items and pair them with an adult volunteer that can wrap the gifts. Balloons Over Broadway Third grade students at St. Andrew's Math and Science read Balloons Over Broadway then researched the